Music Gave Me a Voice - Interview with Jayna Jennings

More and more young artists are emerging from all over the world and creating music that not only touches the heart but relate to everyday things that happen all around us. Their music is inspiring, relatable and a piece of there own life that they are sharing with the world. The devotion and time that they put into creating great music goes to show how determined they are to bring their fans good entertainment and a message in their songs that speak to how they feel.

This interview with one of the young emerging artists is a testament to the next generation of Super Stars rising up through the ranks. Please welcome Jayna Jennings. Jayna was our Social Super Star of the Month for March, 2019 and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to bring her fans this interview to help you get to know more about her. Jayna is a prime example of a true "Georgia Peach" not only with her music but with her messages of faith, hope and inspiration.

...a true "Georgia Peach" not only with her music but with her messages of faith, hope and inspiration.___SocialStars

Introduction to Jayna Jennings

Only two percent of the population are redheads, and Jayna Jennings makes music as unique as her hair. Jayna welcomes you into her world with her emotive, moving, and relatable songwriting in her latest release, ‘Courtyards & Aviaries, Pt. 1.’ All nine songs on this album have received worldwide radio airplay. She was nominated in many categories for the Nashville Universe Awards, including Songwriter of the Year. Jayna is also the host of Showcase with Jayna Jennings, a Tennessee based TV show that spotlights musicians who are doing amazing things with their art. In January of 2018, Jayna became host of the twitter hour, #UnsignedChat, the US division of #MusicHourUK. Jayna will be releasing another album in 2019, and her goal with this new music remains the same- to spread a message of hope to everyone who listens to her and to inspire others with her songs.

Tell us where you are from and give us some background on how you became a singer/songwriter and some interesting info about yourself?

I am from Georgia, just north of Atlanta! I started singing in Church when I was about 3 years old. I used to write lots of plays and movie scripts when I was a little kid and my friends and I would video them or just act them out. Then I would write songs for the “soundtrack” and sing them in the background while my friends put on their scene. I was a very dramatic kid. I later started using my songwriting as a way to describe my life and say what I was thinking.

Music Gave Me A Voice Interview

Most artists are beginning at a young age now, tell us about growing up as a teenager and pursuing a career that shines the spotlight on you? What are some of the struggles and triumphs that you have endured in your career?

It has been an amazing journey so far! Music has given me a voice and I have loved being able to communicate life, love, and hope through music. The hardest struggle has been trying to get people to look past my age and see that I have songs that matter. People tend to write off young musicians as having nothing to say, or having no experience, or singing silly songs that no one likes, but that is not true. I think that my biggest triumph has been seeing so many people relate to my songs, playlist my songs, and allow me into their life.

You allowed SocialStars and myself into your life by no mistake. At a time when I needed someone to give me some light and inspiration you came along. It was by no accident that we was brought together and I am forever grateful that God blessed me with a true friendship.

Family and faith have been the main factors in my life and career. Tell us about your driving forces and what your goals are to accomplish with your music and career.

My driving force has always been Jesus! I have also always wanted to make music that anyone can relate to, and that is appropriate for all ages. I think it is a huge responsibility to have young ears listening to what you say, so I want to make sure that the music I make is awesome for anyone.

Tell us about your family support system and what roles they have had in your development throughout your career.

I have the most supportive family! My mom is my manager, my Dad is my “roadie” and the sound man at some of my shows, my sisters make merch, my Brother in law plays bass with me, and I know that my family/extended family are cheering me on! I rely heavily on their support because they inspire me everyday to learn new things and I know that the biggest fans of my music will be my family.

As a songwriter what would you say is the most challenging part of writing new material and do you write the lyrics to the music or do you make music to fit your lyrics? Give us some examples of your writing process.

For me the most challenging part is being completely open and vulnerable with my lyrics. I used to hide what I was saying under loads of symbolism and imagery but lately my writing has been a lot more blunt. It has led to some better songs. I like to see that growth. I still employ figurative language, but I do like to be transparent because I believe that I am not the only one feeling the way that I do. Everyone wants to feel heard and understood, so I want my music to be able to do that for someone. Most of the time lyrics and music come to me simultaneously. I just quickly write down my idea, grab a guitar or sit down at the piano and sing through my idea until I have a song!

Do you have times when you want to write but cannot find the words or melodies that express what you are feeling and how do you overcome these times?

I went through that a lot a while back when I finished writing for my new album Courtyards & Aviaries Pt. 2. Usually what helps me start writing again is to start working with my fairly new songs- perform them live, record them, start visualizing how to market them, etc. If I can’t find the words to express my feelings, I simply just wait until I am not so close to the topic. When I take a step back and can look at a situation from a broader perspective, I find that my best songs come from that place- the place where I still feel some version of what I felt in the moment, but I am not so close that I can’t see the forest for the trees, so to speak.

What do you find most rewarding about your career in the music industry?

The most rewarding thing for me has been how many friends I have made that I never would’ve met if I hadn’t been in music. I also love that music has given me a voice. I have been able to share my heart with people thousands of miles away just by releasing a song. I write a song in my house and then I find out that it’s playing on the radio in so many different parts of the world, and to me that is such an incredible feeling. Because of that, I have met people that distance wouldn’t have allowed me to meet. To me that is so incredible and so rewarding.

Meeting people from all over the world is an awesome experience and is very rewarding. How has meeting other artists benefited you and can we expect any collaborations in the future?

If you want to find support in the music industry, your best friends are musicians. Musicians get what being a musician is all about, the struggles and the advantages. Most musicians look at fellow artists as friends and buddies, and we love to show support for each other, and that has been such a blessing that has benefited me so much. There will be a collaboration! It’s in the works now, so keep your eyes open!

What are some of your most memorable performances and what made them stand out the most?

I love performances where I can interact with my fans. I love to talk to people who come to my shows, take pictures, and sign CDs. One of my favorite performances was my album release party for my first album Courtyards & Aviaries Pt. 1. I was able to hang out with people who came to the show and see so many of my friends. I had a total blast!

Let's talk about your album "Courtyards and Aviaries Pt.1" tell us about each of the songs on it and which one is your favorite? Why is it your favorite? Will you be releasing a Pt.2 soon?

Making Pt. 1 was so incredible. I had written over 20 songs for the album and picked the ones that I thought were my absolute best. I narrowed it down to 9 songs, and started recording!

So I added my song, Maybe, on the album twice because the concept/theme of the album is the story of Echo and Narcissus. I’ve always thought that the story was so poetic. That theme is carried over into Pt. 2, so everyone be sure to look out for little Easter eggs and hidden meanings to connect the two albums when Pt. 2 comes out!

I also added my song Hold On, a song I wrote about having hope and faith in God.

The inspiration for Midnight Morning came to me over the course of a few days and I wrote the song in about 20 minutes. I knew right away that I wanted to record it because it is just so much fun to sing.

I added Rest in Times of Running because I wrote that song after I took a trip to San Francisco and met a man who was living on the street and only had a handful of quarters. He dropped a few and a man tried to steal them from him! I was so amazed that something like that would happen, so I wrote a song about it!

I added Frozen because my cousin and I wrote it together, and I added Spaghetti because I loved writing it. It was so much fun to play when I had first written it, and I loved to see people’s reaction when I told them the name.

Please was a song that I always felt I had little to do with, even though I wrote it alone in my room. I was so captivated by it and I always wanted to hear it with full production!

Love Me Back is my favorite off the album! It was the first song I wrote that I knew I wanted to put on an album. I originally wrote it on the autoharp because I didn’t have my guitar at home. I was so nervous about putting on the album, but we worked on it in the studio for hours and when I heard the final version I was so amazed with how it turned out and I knew the album was complete.

I felt like Maybe was a song that could fit in many different genres, so I really wanted to add it two different ways. I made Maybe Reprise to showcase the song in a more acoustic and vulnerable state.

I am so excited, because Pt. 2 is in the works right now. I am getting everything ready to release it! I can’t wait to share this new music with everyone.

Social media is a big tool in every successful artists career. Do you maintain all your own social media and how much time would you say you devote in an average week? How important is fan interaction to you?

I do! I run my Instagram and twitter, and I also maintain my Facebook with my mom. I get on social media when I can and connect with my fans as much as possible! It is so important to me to interact with fans. I love getting messages from my fans and seeing kind tweets!

Let's talk more about you! How would you describe yourself on stage when performing and describe what is going through your mind when performing?

I think my performances are fun, personal, and immersive! I love to see people having fun at my shows. At my shows, we’re going to talk about life. I’m going to ask the audience questions, I’m going to sing very personal songs, I’m going to laugh, and I’ll probably see people singing with me, which is always fun. I always think about what lyric is coming next when I’m on stage!

Besides music and radio what are some of your hobbies that you enjoy and what types of activities do you enjoy most?

I love to crochet, go for walks, read the Bible, hang out with my friends, and watch movies! I love watching 70’s game shows, and trying to make hypo-realistic drawings of people.

Do you participate in any sports activities? What are some of your favorite TV shows and movies?

I am not a sports person, but I love exercise. I love spin, going for walks, and dancing (even though my dancing is not good). My favorite TV shows are Monk and Psych, and my favorite movie is Groundhog Day!

When you describe your music style who would you say your main influences are?

My absolute favorites are Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Otis Redding, Prince, Alison Krauss, and Tom Petty. I have such a diverse interest in music so my music is a product of so many different genres!

If you could perform on any stage with any other performer who would it be and where would you want to play?

I would play the Ryman Auditorium and I would love to perform with The Avett Brothers!

What kind of charity events have you done and what charities mean the most to you?

I have performed to benefit SERV International, a nonprofit organization that shares food and the love of Christ all over the world. I have also performed for an organization called Change In Our World. Change is an anti-suicide organization that helps so many struggling people in the community. It is a cause that is so dear to my heart, and as someone who wants to spread hope for the future, seeing organizations who feel that way as well has been so inspiring!

Musicians call it paying your dues but have you went out and busked and if so where did you do it and what kind of experience did you have?

I have busked! There is this awesome festival in Dahlonega, GA every year called Bear on the Square. Over the past couple of years I have been able to play a set in one of the tents there, and then I go meet up with some of the bluegrass bands who are performing on the street. We sing some hymns and always have a blast!

Tell us about what you have going on currently and what we can expect in the near future?

Currently, I am working on Courtyards & Aviaries Pt. 2, and I am getting all the promotional stuff ready to go! I am so excited for this new album to be released! You can expect some really cool things to come with this new record!

Do you have a schedule of upcoming events, shows, times, places, ect...?

Yes! My next show is April 27 in Alabama at Canyon Rocks. I try to keep everyone informed about my shows through my social media, so please follow me!

My twitter is @JaynaSongs, my Instagram is @JaynaJenningsSongs, and my Facebook is JaynaJennings13.

We want to thank you for being our #SocialSuperStar of the month and want to know what your experience has been with SocialStars and what you would say to other artists that may become a featured artist in the future?

Being #SocialSuperStar of the month was an absolute blessing! Seeing the support of so many people through the platform is awesome. I loved the interview! Great questions! I would tell the next artists to just enjoy the love the community sends you!